Memphis Tigers ranked No. 13 in USA Today preseason basketball poll

October 3, 2013 - Memphis new comers Austin Nichols (left) and Dominic Woodson (right) battle each other during the first official practice of the upcoming Tigers basketball season. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

The University of Memphis is ranked No. 13 in USA Today's preseason coaches poll released Thursday.

The Tigers, who went 31-5 a season ago, are one of three American Athletic Conference teams ranked in USA Today's top 25.

Louisville, the defending national champion and a unanimous pick among league coaches to win the American this season, is ranked No. 3.

Connecticut, picked second in the American ahead of Memphis by league coaches, is ranked No. 19, coming off a 20-10 season last year.

It's the fourth straight season under Pastner the Tigers will begin the year ranked. Memphis began the 2012-13 season ranked No. 16 in the USA Today coaches poll.

"It just shows you once again the relevance of the program at the national level and that there's been no drop-off," coach Josh Pastner said. "It's not easy nor is it a birthright to be a preseason ranked top-15 team. Do not take that for granted."

Kentucky, with a freshman class that consists of six McDonald's All-Americans, is ranked No. 1. Michigan State is No. 2, followed by Louisville, Duke and Arizona in spots 3-5.

In addition to its four conference contests against Louisville and Connecticut, Memphis will play three other teams this season currently ranked as part of its nonconference schedule -- No. 8 Florida (Dec. 17), No. 12 Oklahoma State (Nov. 19) and No. 14 Gonzaga (Feb. 8). The Tigers could also see Oklahoma State a second time Dec. 1 in the championship game of the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla.